Word
切れる
Meaning in Englishcut well, break, run out, lose temper
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
What does 切れる mean? It means to be sharp or to cut well, and it also describes things that become disconnected or exhausted; in use, it spans physical cutting, signal interruptions, and mental acuity.
Main meanings
- be sharp or cut well — used for blades, tools, and metaphorically for a keen mind
- to be cut off or disconnected — for calls, signals, or power
- to run out or expire — used with time or resources in some contexts
- to be quick-witted or mentally sharp — common in phrases like 頭が切れる
How to use it
Used intransitively across casual and formal speech to describe physical cutting, sharpness, or the ending of a connection; common patterns include 包丁はよく切れる and 電話が切れる, with slang usage in キレる to indicate sudden anger or temper, especially in informal conversation.
Variants and close terms
- 鋭い (surudoi) — sharp
- 鋭利な (eiri na) — keen, razor-sharp
- 頭が切れる (atama ga kireru) — quick-witted
- 鈍い (nibui) — dull
- キレる (kireru) — slang meaning to snap or lose one's temper
Composition
- 切: a kanji meaning cut, edge, or sever; れる: an ichidan verb ending that turns the root into an intransitive state; together they form 切れる, to be capable of cutting or to be cut
Word class
verb (ichidan)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
切開
sekkai
opening up, cutting through
N1
切実
setsujitsu
compelling, serious, severe, acute
N1
切ない
setsunai
painful, trying, sad
N1
痛切
tsuusetsu
keen, deep
N1
持ち切り
mochikiri
hot topic, talk of the town
N2
～切れ
～kire
out of ~
N2
売り切れ
urikire
sold-out
N2
売り切れる
urikireru
to be sold out
N2
思い切り
omoikiri
with all one's strength (heart), resignation, resolution
Kanji